At its meeting in Hanoi, 2001 the IASPEI Commission on Seismological
Observation and Interpretation decided to set up a Working Group on
Standard Seismic Phase List. The final product of the WG is supposed
to be recommended by IASPEI for use in data exchange among seismic
observatories, local, regional, and international data centres.

The new list modifies and complements the phase nomenclature,
published in the previous edition of the Manual of Seismological
Observatory Practice (Willmore,1979) and the ISC bulletins. It is more
in tune with the modern earth models and accounts for the
significantly increased detection capabilities of modern (digital)
seismic stations. The new phase list also uses the larger flexibility
of the new data exchange format (ISF).

We have not tried to create a complete list of phases which are
observable on seismograms. Neither have we tried to come up with a
phase nomenclature for all special phase observations which may be
used in research papers. We have tried to create a list which as far
as possible would be logical, concise, consistent and
self-explanatory.